First Team

Cathro: We threw it away

Ian Cathro wants his players to manage game better after seeing Dundee come from behind to win.

Ian Cathro admitted his team had to “grow up” as they threw away a 2-0 lead at Dens Park to lose 3-2 in a match they had controlled from the outset.

Goals from Jamie Walker and Callum Paterson looked to have the Jambos in cruise control, but an indifferent second half display saw the Jambos concede three goals including a stoppage-time strike from Marcus Haber to leave empty handed.

After the match, the Head Coach was under no illusions as to where his team had failed to see out the match, and what needed changing in the immediate future.

“Ultimately, we were entirely in control of the match, and we threw it away. Full stop. There are more lessons from tonight,” said Cathro. “But I think I’ve learned everything I need to now. It’s been two weeks, and I’ve learned what I need.

“I don’t think that’ll happen again. That’s something that is difficult to ensure, but when the game reaches a point when you’re dominant and in control, it comes down to how you manage the game.”

When asked where he thought the side had been lacking, Cathro confessed that the squad required more players to stand up and be counted when under pressure, otherwise they would never progress in the game.

“You need leaders, and strong mentalities on the pitch, and players to control the game minute by minute”, he said. “We lost control and it’s down to on pitch mistakes and on pitch leadership.

“We did brilliant stuff in the first 50 minutes, but we’ve not got the result. Obviously, it counts for nothing now, and we focus on our failures instead. There’s some leadership in the squad, but we need to start growing.

“We’re used to talking about teams having lots of captains, lots of leaders, but everyone on the pitch has to have a bit of leadership in there, and to be honest, we just need people out there to grow up.”